A whopping $30m in cash was allegedly smuggled into Queensland and frozen meat products fraudulently relabelled in what the state\u2019s corruption watchdog has labelled a cross border pork racket.<\/p>\n
Investigators have also alleged $10m of sales records were wiped or never created and the proceeds siphoned off in the nearly decade-long \u201ctrade-based\u201d fraud racket involving business owners and workers in the pork industry.<\/p>\n
The major investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission and NSW Police Force has led to four people \u2014 two Queenslanders and two from NSW \u2014 being charged with a string of fraud offences.<\/p>\n
Authorities have seized more than $3m in cash and two vehicles, while stating the total value of assets restrained as suspected proceeds of crime exceeds $25 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetween 2017 and 2026, it is alleged that sales records relating to approximately $10m in transactions were deleted or not created, resulting in proceeds being excluded from business records and retained for personal use,\u201d the CCC said.<\/p>\n
\u201cInvestigators further allege that, during the same period, more than $30m in cash was transported from NSW to Queensland, including through the concealment of substantial sums of cash in interstate freight vehicles.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CCC has also alleged that the Queensland-based people involved in the alleged offending fraudulently relabelled frozen meat products by altering production and best-before dates.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe CCC has confirmed with food safety authorities that those practices do not raise any food safety concerns,\u201d the CCC said. Two people in Queensland have been charged with fraudulently destroying records, making fraudulent omissions in records, fraud, receiving tainted property and making false declarations.<\/p>\n
They are scheduled to appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 14.<\/p>\n
Two NSW-based people have been charged by NSW police with offences relating to the destruction or concealment of accounting records with intent to defraud.<\/p>\n
One of them also faces charges relating to the possession and dissemination of child abuse material, and the possession of prohibited animal abuse material.<\/p>\n
The crime operations division of the CCC worked in partnership with Strike Force Danberta which is led by the NSWPF anti-money laundering unit. The New South Wales Crime Commission (NSWCC) was also involved.<\/p>\n
Queensland CCC acting senior executive officer of crime Cameron Rentz said the investigation demonstrated the importance of partnerships in addressing complex and cross-border suspected criminal activity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis operation reflects the CCC\u2019s commitment to disrupting serious [alleged] criminal offending that undermines the integrity of legitimate business activity and the Queensland economy. Complex financial crime is often sophisticated and deliberately concealed.\u201d<\/p>\n
NSWPF Anti-Money Laundering Unit Co-ordinator Detective Inspector Gilbert Laverdure said the investigation highlighted the effectiveness of cross-jurisdictional co-operation in targeting organised crime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A whopping $30m in cash was allegedly smuggled into Queensland and frozen meat products fraudulently relabelled in 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